Heel lock ankle support

ABSTRACT

An ankle support has a tubular sock-like elastic sheath which, in use, is slipped over the foot and ankle of a wearer and extends upwardly over the lower leg, the sheath thereby having lateral and medial sides and a posterior end for receiving the heel of a wearer. Heel locks are provided by lateral and medial elastic locking straps secured to the sheath at a bottom portion of the posterior end of the sheath, and at a rear portion of the sheath (back of the heel) above the posterior end. The action of the two locking straps locks the heel of the wearer against lateral and medial movement. An elastic wrap on the sheath over the foot and ankle of the wearer overlies the lateral and medial portions of the locking straps to provide a lift to the heel.

This invention relates to an ankle support for stabilizing the anklecomplex of a wearer, particularly athletes and active persons, toprovide protection from injury and post injury support.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Ankle supports or wraps and taping of the ankle are commonly used toprevent or reduce the severity of debilitating ankle sprains. Athletesin both contact and noncontact sports are particularly susceptible tothis injury. Methods of wrapping include the use of adhesive tapestrapping, which is discarded after use, or reusable ankle wrapsemploying elastic material such as spandex or the like. Both taping ofthe ankle and reusable supports are applied to virtually immobilize thecontact between the bones and the ligaments of the ankle region in orderto prevent injurious pulling, stretching or tearing of these ligaments.Adhesive tapes, however, can be expensive to use, both because they arediscarded after a single application and due to the time required by acoach or trainer to properly tape or supervise the taping of the ankleof an athlete.

A solution to this problem has been the utilization of reusable anklewraps or supports of the general type as shown, for example, in U.S.Pat. Nos. 4,962,768 and 5,676,641. Although these supports have beensuccessfully used by athletes and active individuals, they should beproperly applied to the user in order to maximize effectiveness. Ifreusable supports are not applied in the recommended manner,effectiveness is reduced as compared to taping the ankle. Accordingly,it is desirable in reusable ankle supports to configure the support sothat it can be readily applied as recommended and emulates aprofessionally taped ankle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In an embodiment of the present invention, an ankle support is providedthat comprises a tubular sock-like elastic sheath which, in use, isslipped over the foot and ankle of a wearer and extends upwardly overthe lower leg, the sheath thereby having lateral and medial sides and aposterior end for receiving the heel of a wearer. A first elasticlocking strap on the lateral side of the sheath is extended to astretched condition when the ankle support is worn and has one endsecured to the sheath at a bottom portion of the posterior end of thesheath, and an opposite end secured to the sheath at a rear portion ofthe sheath (back of the heel) above the posterior end. A second elasticlocking strap on the medial side of the sheath is extended to astretched condition when the ankle support is worn, and has one endsecured to the sheath at the bottom portion of the posterior end, and anopposite end thereof secured to the sheath at the rear portion behindthe heel. The action of the two locking straps locks the heel of thewearer against lateral and medial movement. An elastic wrap on thesheath over the foot and ankle of the wearer overlies the lateral andmedial portions of the locking straps, whereby the ankle supportprovides heel locks and a lift to the heel.

Other advantages of the invention will become apparent from thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, anembodiment of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is essentially an elevational view taken from the outside of theright foot showing the ankle support on the foot, but with the elasticwrap removed to show the position of the elastic locking strap on thelateral side of the foot.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the ankle support shown in FIG. 1 withthe right foot reoriented and shows the ends of the two elastic lockingstraps secured to the sheath at the bottom of the foot adjacent theheel, the straps of the elastic wrap being shown fragmentarily and inbroken lines before application to the foot.

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation of the support shown in FIG. 1, with thestrap members of the elastic wrap removed for clarity.

FIGS. 4-7 show, in order, the steps of wrapping the elastic strapmembers around the ankle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A tubular, sock-like elastic sheath 10 receives the foot 12 and lowerleg of a wearer as is clear in the drawings, the sheath 10 being slippedover the foot 12 which preferably has an athletic sock 14 thereon. Thesheath 10 has a front opening 16 from which the toes and part of thefoot 12 extend, and a heel opening 18 at the posterior end of the sheath10 through which the heel 20 of the foot protrudes. The sheath 10 ismade from an elastic fabric such as spandex or the like, and is sized tohave an unstretched diameter somewhat less than the wearer's leg so thatthe fabric is stretched as it is pulled over the foot 12 into position.The preferred material has four-way stretchability, meaning that it hasresilience in directions up and down the leg as well ascircumferentially. This holds the sheath 10 in place and also impartssome support to the ankle region.

An elastic locking strap 22 overlies the medial side of the heel, and anelastic locking strap 24 overlies the lateral side of the heel. Each ofthe locking straps 22 and 24 is permanently attached to the sheath 10 bya vertically extending line of stitching 26 at the back of the heel(FIG. 3) and a line of stitching 28 on the bottom of the sheath 10extending from front to rear beneath the heel (FIG. 2). Accordingly, theposterior ends of the straps 22 and 24 are secured to the sheath 10 atthe back of the heel or posterior end of the sheath 10, and the lowerends are secured to the sheath 10 at the rear portion thereof beneaththe heel and forwardly of the heel opening 20. Thus, angled elasticstraps 22 and 24 are presented which, as will be discussed below,present heel locks that provide stabilization to the ankle complex.

In addition to the stitching 26 and 28, Velcro® fasteners 30 and 32 arealso provided on locking straps 22 and 24, respectively, to secure thecentral portions of the locking straps in place on the sheath 10 as theyextend downwardly, outwardly and under the heel as may be appreciatedfrom a comparison of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. Mating Velcro® fasteners are sewnto the sheath 10 as illustrated at 36 in FIG. 1 for the lateral side.Therefore, the elastic locking straps 22 and 24 are maintained in thepositions illustrated in the figures as the ankle support is removed andreinstalled and are thus held in the positions illustrated over themedial and lateral sides of the heel.

Supplementing the locking straps 22 and 24, a pair of elongated elasticstrap members 40 and 42 are provided and apply a wrap as illustrated inthe sequential views 4-7. The lower end portions of the strap members 40and 42 are seen in phantom lines in FIG. 2 where it may be appreciatedthat the terminal ends thereof are held by the line of stitching 28 thatalso secures the locking straps 22 and 24. Preferably, the member 40that extends laterally from the bottom of the foot is somewhat shorterthan the member 42 that extends medially. The sequence of the wrapbegins (FIG. 4) by drawing member 40 across the tibia and to the rearthereof, and then across the fibula to the front where Velcro® fasteners44 and 46 on the member 40 mate (FIG. 5). Strap member 42 is then drawninto position as shown in FIGS. 5-7, above and partially overlappingmember 40 by wrapping in the opposite direction as illustrated. In itsfinal position as seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, member 42 is secured by matingVelcro® fasteners 48 intermediate the ends of member 42, and 50 at theend thereof.

In use, the sheath 10 is slipped over the ankle of the wearer to theposition illustrated where the heel 20 of the wearer protrudes from theheel opening 18. The locking straps 22 and 24 are thus positioned in anangled orientation extending from the bottom of the foot upwardly andrearwardly to the line of stitching 26. The angled straps 22 and 24comprise an elastic material having a two-way stretch, i.e., alengthwise stretch and elongation as the support is pulled over the footinto position. As the wearer pulls the sheath 10 onto his or her footand stretches the material to its final position shown, for example, inFIGS. 1-3, each of the elastic straps 22, 24 extends to its limit ofelasticity thus creating fixed heel locks on the medial and lateralsides of the foot. It may be appreciated, therefore, that the length ofeach of the straps 22, 24 from the bottom line of stitching 28 to thesubstantially vertically extending line of stitching 26 at the back ofthe heel is selected in accordance with the particular material used toprovide a maximum stretch in the fully installed position of the supportshown in FIGS. 1-3. In this manner, the heel locks stabilize the heelcomplex to control severe inversion and eversion that can cause an anklesprain.

The two strap members 40 and 42 supplement the heel locks and are alsolongitudinally stretchable to a maximum extension. The shorter strapmember 40 is wrapped low around the ankle complex and the longer strapmember 42 is then wrapped in the opposite direction somewhat higher onthe upper part of the ankle as is apparent in FIGS. 5-7. The strapconfiguration is similar to the final process in taping an ankle andcreates a lift to the heel of the wearer. This assists in bringing thewearer up on the ball of the foot for better rotation, again helping toreduce the chances of an ankle sprain. Accordingly, the ankle supportprovides the combination of fixed heel locks and a heel lift in asupport that is easy to put on quickly and correctly and is reusable.

It is to be understood that while certain forms of this invention havebeen illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto, exceptinsofar as such limitations are included in the following claims.

1. An ankle support comprising: a tubular sock-like elastic sheathadapted to be slipped over a foot and ankle of a wearer and, when worn,to extend upwardly therefrom over the lower leg, said sheath havinglateral and medial sides and having a posterior end for receiving theheel of a wearer, a first elastic locking strap on said lateral sideextended to a stretched condition when the ankle support is worn, andhaving one end secured to said sheath at a bottom portion of saidposterior end, and an opposite end secured to said sheath at a rearportion thereof above said end, a second elastic locking strap on saidmedial side extended to a stretched condition when the ankle support isworn, and having one end thereof secured to said sheath at said bottomportion, and an opposite end thereof secured to said sheath at said rearportion, whereby said locking straps lock the heel of a wearer againstlateral and medial movement, and an elastic wrap on said sheath over thefoot and ankle of the wearer and overlying lateral and medial portionsof said locking straps, whereby to provide heel locks and a lift to theheel of the wearer of the support.
 2. An ankle support comprising: atubular sock-like elastic sheath adapted to be slipped over a foot andankle of a wearer and, when worn, to extend upwardly therefrom over thelower leg, said sheath having lateral and medial sides and a heelopening for receiving the heel of a wearer, a first elastic lockingstrap on said lateral side extended to a stretched condition when theankle support is worn, and having one end secured to said sheath at abottom portion thereof adjacent said heel opening, and an opposite endsecured to said sheath at a rear portion thereof above said heelopening, a second elastic locking strap on said medial side extended toa stretched condition when the ankle support is worn, and having one endthereof secured to said sheath at said bottom portion, and an oppositeend thereof secured to said sheath at said rear portion, a pair ofelongated elastic strap members each having a first and second ends,said first end of each strap member being secured to said sheath at saidbottom portion, said strap members in use being wrapped around saidsheath in opposite directions over the ankle of the wearer intooperative positions, and fasteners associated with the second ends ofsaid strap members for securing the same in said operative positions,whereby to provide heel locks and a lift to the heel of the wearer ofthe support.
 3. In an ankle support: a tubular sock-like elastic sheathadapted to be slipped over a foot and ankle of a wearer and, when worn,to extend upwardly therefrom over the lower leg, said sheath havinglateral and medial sides and having a posterior end for receiving theheel of a wearer, a first elastic locking strap on said lateral sideextended to a stretched condition when the ankle support is worn, andhaving one end secured to said sheath at a bottom portion of saidposterior end, and an opposite end secured to said sheath at a rearportion thereof above said end, and a second elastic locking strap onsaid medial side extended to a stretched condition when the anklesupport is worn, and having one end thereof secured to said sheath atsaid bottom portion, and an opposite end thereof secured to said sheathat said rear portion, whereby said locking straps lock the heel of awearer against lateral and medial movement.
 4. In an ankle support: atubular sock-like elastic sheath adapted to be slipped over a foot andankle of a wearer and, when worn, to extend upwardly therefrom over thelower leg, said sheath having lateral and medial sides and a heelopening for receiving the heel of a wearer, a first elastic lockingstrap on said lateral side extended to a stretched condition when theankle support is worn, and having one end secured to said sheath at abottom portion thereof adjacent said heel opening, and an opposite endsecured to said sheath at a rear portion thereof above said heelopening, and a second elastic locking strap on said medial side extendedto a stretched condition when the ankle support is worn, and having oneend thereof secured to said sheath at said bottom portion, and anopposite end thereof secured to said sheath at said rear portion,whereby said locking straps lock the heel of a wearer against lateraland medial movement.